Assembly Democrats unveil 2015 agenda

MADISON — Minority Democrats in the state Assembly unveiled their agenda for the upcoming session Wednesday, saying their plans would help grow personal income in Wisconsin.

Minority Leader Peter Barca, a Kenosha Democrat, said at a news conference that majority Republicans almost never talk about giving people economic opportunities anymore and that middle-class families need help.

Rep. Andy Jorgensen, a Milton Democrat, accused the Republicans of failing to advance a "positive, proactive agenda." He said the Democrats are ready to deliver for the people immediately.

The plan, dubbed "15 Bills for 2015," includes measures that would raise the minimum wage to $10.10, create grants for businesses with paid internships and expand broadband access in rural areas.

Other bills would create a tax refund for investors, restore cuts to the earned income tax credit, create a special tax benefit for working families with at least one child, and require the state to attempt to purchase 20 percent of materials and contractual services from Wisconsin-based businesses.

Still others would offer existing tax credits to small businesses as grants up front as well as create nanotechnology research hubs, a dual enrollment program between K-12 schools and technical colleges and grants for businesses that offer paid internships.

The Democrats face an uphill fight to get any of the measures passed. Republicans outnumber them in the chamber 63-36 and control the state Senate 18-14.

Kit Beyer, a spokeswoman for Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, a Rochester Republican, called the Democrats' agenda a package of recycled ideas to grow the size of government and increase government spending.

"Assembly Republicans are focused on reforming government, growing the economy and making the right priorities for the state by using the resources that we have," she said.